Calla Lily plant named &#39;Peach Pearl&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘Peach Pearl’ is a new variety of calla lily plant having inflorescences with a yellow/orange-colored spathe that produces 6-22 inflorescences per tuber. The height of the top of an inflorescence above the soil can reach up to 50 cm. The leaves are green with transparent maculations present and have a leathery texture.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 62/498,157, having a filing date of Dec. 15, 2016,and entitled “Varieties of Calla Lily Plants”, the entire disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

Botanical classification: Zantedeschia sprengeri.

Varietal denomination: ‘Peach Pearl’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of callalily, botanically known as Zantedeschia sprengeri and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Peach Pearl’.

‘Peach Pearl’ is a product of a planned breeding program, which had theobjective of creating Zantedeschia hybrids for pot flower production ina wide range of colors with a large, classic flower shape. The breedingprogram began in 1989, and the new cultivar is a seedling selected fromthe crossing of a Zantedeschia sprengeri variety named ‘Goldilocks’(female parent, unpatented) with a Zantedeschia sprengeri variety named‘Red Alert’ (male parent, unpatented). ‘Peach Pearl’ was selected in2012 by the inventor in 't Zand, The Netherlands as one flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Peach Pearl’ by tissue culturewas performed by the inventor in September of 2012 in 't Zand, TheNetherlands. Subsequent asexual reproductions by tissue culture at thesame location have demonstrated that the combination of characteristicsas herein disclosed for the new cultivar are retained and reproducedtrue to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown from 12 to 14 weeks in 14 cm pots in 't Zand, The Netherlandsunder greenhouse conditions, which approximate those generally used inhorticultural practice. Color references are made to the 2001 R.H.S.Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London, except wheregeneral color terms of ordinary significance are used.

The present invention has not been evaluated under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations inenvironment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and determined to bebasic characteristics of ‘Peach Pearl’ which, in combination,distinguish this calla lily as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Yellow/orange-colored spathes;

2. High inflorescence production; and

3. Fast forcing time.

Further, when compared to calla lily plant named ‘Mercedes’(unpatented), the upper surface spathe color of ‘Mercedes’ variesbetween Red Group RHS 46C and 46D, whereas the upper surface spathecolor of ‘Peach Pearl’ varies between Yellow Group RHS 12B and 13B, witha secondary color that varies between Yellow-Orange Group RHS 22A andOrange Group 25C.

Table 1 provides similarities and differences of ‘Peach Pearl’ to itsparents, Zantedeschia sprengeri variety ‘Goldilocks’ and Zantedeschiasprengeri variety ‘Red Alert’.

TABLE 1 ‘Peach Pearl’ Similarities Differences ‘Goldilocks’ Spathe shapeSpathe color Leaf maculations Number of inflorescences ‘Red Alert’Forcing time Spathe color Leaf maculations Spathe size

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawing illustrates the new variety, withthe colors being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrationsof this type:

FIG. 1 is a photograph of a plant of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   The plant:    -   -   Size.—Height of the leaf canopy above the soil: 13-43 cm.            Height of top of inflorescences above the soil: 22-50 cm.            Diameter: 6.5-13 cm.        -   Form.—Erect.        -   Number of inflorescences per tuber.—Size 14-16 cm in            diameter: 6-10 inflorescences. Size 16-18 cm in diameter:            12-17 inflorescences. Size 18-20 cm in diameter: 12-19            inflorescences. Size 20+ cm in diameter: 13-22            inflorescences.        -   Branches.—Character: Similar to ‘Picasso’ (U.S. Plant Pat.            No. 15,282). Color: Between Green Group RHS 143A and            Yellow-Green Group RHS 144B.        -   Leaves.—Size: Width: 3.5-10 cm. Length: 10-19 cm. Number per            plant: 26-34. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Apiculate. Base:            Between decurrent and truncate. Margin: Undulate; having a            color between Yellow-Green Group RHS 146A and 147A. Color:            Upper surface: Yellow-Green Group RHS 146A to 147B, having            transparent maculations of approximately White Group RHS            155A. Lower surface: Yellow-Green Group RHS 146A to 146B,            having transparent maculations of approximately White Group            RHS 155A. Veins: Configuration: Pinnate. Color: Upper            Surface: Yellow-Green Group RHS 146A to 147A. Lower Surface:            Yellow-Green Group RHS 146B to 147A. Surface quality:            Leathery. Petiole: Length: 11-22 cm. Diameter: 3-6 mm.            Color: The base is White Group RHS 155A, the upper part is            Green Group RHS 143A to Yellow-Green Group RHS 146C.        -   Roots.—Color: White. Branching: Similar to other            Zantedeschia varieties.-   The inflorescence and seeds:    -   -   Spathe.—Size: Length (measured from opening to tip): 5-6 cm.            Width: 3-6 cm. Height: 6-10 cm. Color: Upper surface: Varies            between Yellow Group RHS 12B and 13B, with a secondary color            that varies between Yellow-Orange Group RHS 22A and Orange            Group 25C. Lower surface: Varies between Yellow Group RHS 7A            and 12B, with a secondary color that varies between            Yellow-Orange Group RHS 22A and Orange Group 25C. Vein            color: Between Yellow-Green Group RHS N144B and N144C.            Shape: Cupped. Apex: Apiculate. Base: Decurrent. Margin:            Rounded. Texture: Smooth (upper and lower surfaces).        -   Spadix.—Size: Length: 22-47 mm. Diameter: 4-9 mm. Color:            Between Yellow Group RHS 13A and Yellow-Orange Group RES            17B. Position relative to spathe: Upright.        -   Peduncle.—Size: Length: 16-40 cm. Diameter: 5-7 mm. Color:            The upper part is between Yellow-Green Group RHS 144A and            146A, the lower part is Green-White Group RHS 157C. Texture:            Smooth.        -   Reproductive organs.—Location of female organs: Basal            position of the spadix. Location of male organs: Upper            position of the spadix. Perianth: Conspicuous. Stamens:            Presence: Not visible before pollen release. Number: More            than 20. Pollen amount: Abundant; similar to ‘Picasso’ (U.S.            Plant Pat. No. 15,282). Color: Between White Group RHS 155A            and 155B. Anther: Shape: Round. Length: Less than 1 mm.            Color: Between Yellow Group RHS 13A and Yellow-Orange Group            RHS 17B. Filament: Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between            White Group RHS 155A and 155B. Pistils: Number: 15 to 30.            Length beyond perianth: About 1 mm. Stigma: Shape: Round.            Size: Less than 1 mm. Style: Length: Less than 1 mm. Color:            Between Yellow Group RHS 13C and Yellow-Orange Group RHS            14C. Ovaries: Texture: Smooth. Length: Between 1 to 10 mm.            Width: Between 1 to 10 mm. Color: Top color is between            Green-Yellow Group RHS 1B and Yellow Group RHS 3C; the            bottom color is between White Group RHS 155B to Green-White            Group RHS 157C.        -   Seeds.—Length: 4-7 mm. Width: 3-6 mm. Color: Between            Yellow-Green Group RHS 150A and 151A. Amount: Between 1-60.-   General:    -   -   Disease resistance.—No unusual susceptibility to diseases            noticed to date.        -   Pest resistance.—No unusual susceptibility to pests noticed            to date.        -   Heat tolerance.—No heat tolerance.        -   Hardiness.—Not hardy.        -   Flowering.—In general, the time from planting to first            flowering takes eight weeks. However, tubers stored for a            longer period before planting may flower earlier — up to            five weeks after planting.        -   Lastingness.—About two weeks on the plant.        -   Fragrance.—None.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of calla lily plant named ‘PeachPearl’ as herein described and illustrated.